It’s the final farewell to those who have served this nation in uniform: A folded flag presented to a grieving family, the lonesome sound of “Taps,” and a volley from a rifle salute echoing across a cemetery.

But with federal officials estimating that at least 1,000 World War II veterans are dying each day — not to mention those who served in Korea, Vietnam or during peace time — those who volunteer in honor guards at funerals are very, very busy.

In Alameda County alone, it can reach up to 200 funerals a month, said Ed Abbey of American Legion Post 647, which is based in the city of Alameda.

“We go out rain or shine, warm or cold,” Abbey said.

What can make assembling an honor guard difficult is the fact that those who volunteer for the duty are themselves now getting up in years.

Of the dozen or so veterans who serve as guards in Alameda County under the auspices of American Legion District 10, at least one served in World War II and another in Korea.

namese military, but take part as a tribute to their adopted country.

“I am 56 years old and I am literally the baby of the bunch,” said Abbey, a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant who suffered shrapnel wounds in Iraq. “We’ve had a bugler who was participating in funerals just after he had knee surgery. It meant that he had to sit in a folding chair until it was time to play. It’s that kind of dedication and sacrifice that’s so rare today and so inspiring.”

Since January 2000, federal law requires the U.S. military to provide a rendering of military honors at the funeral of any eligible veteran if their family requests it.

Along with playing “Taps” and the presentation of the flag, the law calls for at least two members of the armed forces to attend the funeral, including at least one from the branch in which the deceased served.

Sometimes, however, it can be just the graying veterans from the American Legion who show up, especially if a family cannot present their loved one’s honorable discharge papers to the military.

No representative from the U.S. Army or the Veterans Affairs, for instance, was on hand when George Johnson passed away in August 2006 in Richmond. Johnson was 112 years old — at the time California’s oldest man — and among the few surviving veterans from World War I.

When U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew Higgins of Hayward was killed in Iraq in June last year, the military initially declined to send an honor guard, saying the sergeant’s fellow soldiers had already paid tribute to him during a service in Hawaii, according to Abbey.

“The family did not attend that,” he said. “The legion was notified and stepped in to help. We don’t care how many services there have been. Are you taking care of the survivors?”Joe Williams participates as a member of an honor guard at least once a week. The 77-year-old, who lives on Bay Farm Island, was a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“No matter how often you do it, you still get that little catch in your throat,” Williams said.